In Super Mario Bros. 3, only two tank companies, which guard Dark Land, appear, the first one being found in the kingdom's first area and the other in the last portion of it; the first company (composed of either 13 tanks (original/All-Stars version) or 10 tanks (Super Mario Advance 4), including one with a flamethrower, one super tank, and one with larger artillery) being commanded by a Boomerang Brother. and the second company being commanded by Boom Boom. The latter company was composed of two regular tanks and three super tanks, the latter of which were named because they were far larger than normal. In addition, airships were seen aiding the latter company, possibly implying that airships and tanks sometimes work together in the same company.

In the manual for Super Mario Bros. 3, Lemmy's character quote mentioned that he heard that his father was developing a new weapon. Whether the weapon were the tanks, the small air force, or the battleships wasn't specified.